In 2006, approximately 7.5 million people went to the doctor's office for a shoulder
problem, including shoulder and upper arm sprains and strains. More than 4.1 million
of these visits were for rotator cuff problems.

Shoulder injuries are frequently caused by athletic activities that involve excessive,
repetitive, overhead motion, such as swimming, tennis, pitching, and weightlifting.
Injuries can also occur during everyday activities such washing walls, hanging curtains,
and gardening.

Warning Signs of a Shoulder Injury

If you are experiencing pain in your shoulder, ask yourself these questions:

Is your shoulder stiff? Can you rotate your arm in all the normal positions?

Does it feel like your shoulder could pop out or slide out of the socket?

Do you lack the strength in your shoulder to carry out your daily activities?

If you answered "yes" to any one of these questions, you should consult an orthopaedic
surgeon for help in determining the severity of the problem.

Most problems in the shoulder involve the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, rather
than the bones. Athletes are especially susceptible to shoulder problems. In athletes,
shoulder problems can develop slowly through repetitive, intensive training routines.

Some people will have a tendency to ignore the pain and "play through" a shoulder
injury, which only aggravates the condition, and may possibly cause more problems.
People also may underestimate the extent of their injury because steady pain, weakness
in the arm, or limitation of joint motion will become almost second nature to them.

Orthopaedic surgeons group shoulder problems into the following categories.

Instability

Sometimes, one of the shoulder joints moves or is forced out of its normal position.
This condition is called instability, and can result in a dislocation of one of the
joints in the shoulder. Individuals suffering from an instability problem will experience
pain when raising their arm. They also may feel as if their shoulder is slipping out
of place.

Impingement

Impingement is caused by excessive rubbing of the shoulder muscles against the top
part of the shoulder blade, called the acromion.

Impingement problems can occur during activities that require excessive overhead arm
motion. Medical care should be sought immediately for inflammation in the shoulder
because it could eventually lead to a more serious injury.

The rotator cuff is one of the most important components of the shoulder. It is comprised
of a group of muscles and tendons that hold the bones of the shoulder joint together.
The rotator cuff muscles provide individuals with the ability to lift their arm and
reach overhead. When the rotator cuff is injured, people sometimes do not recover
the full shoulder function needed to properly participate in an athletic activity.

Other Treatment

AAOS does not endorse any treatments, procedures, products, or physicians referenced
herein. This information is provided as an educational service and is not intended
to serve as medical advice. Anyone seeking specific orthopaedic advice or assistance
should consult his or her orthopaedic surgeon, or locate one in your area through
the AAOS "Find an Orthopaedist" program on this website.